Stoke City have suffered a big blow with news that Glen Johnson is facing three to four weeks on the sidelines after suffering a fresh thigh injury.
The 32-year-old defender suffered the problem in training this week, although it is NOT the same injury which forced him to withdraw from the England squad to face Malta and Slovenia.
Johnson earned a surprise international recall from interim boss Gareth Southgate last week but pulled out with a thigh problem.
The former Liverpool man had been expected to be fit to play for the Potters against Sunderland on Saturday.